Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio

Overview

Available languages

English

7 hours

Mobile ticket

This is a unique ceremonial cave exploration tour, an experience of a lifetime! You get to immerse into this impressive cave system once used by the ancient Maya to perform sacrificial rituals. You will be accompanied by a professionally trained, licensed tour guide. To access this ceremonial site you swim, follow underground tunnels, passageways and burial chambers decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient clay pottery.

This tour begins at 8:00am and concludes around 3:00pm.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults

Children must be accompanied by an adult

A minimum of 2 (two) people per booking is required

Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or the option to do a different tour (surcharges may apply)

Not available for children shorter than 40" in height.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Equipment

Bottled water

Professional guide

Towels

Park Entrance Fees

Lunch and refreshments are included. Do let us know if there are any dietary restrictions or preferences we should know about.

Transportation

Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

ATM Cave is located within the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. It's located approximately one hour drive south east of San Ignacio Town in the Teakettle Village. A thirty minute hike through jungle trails and river crossings will bring you to the entrance of the cave. A short swim, approximately 15 feet allows access to “Xibalba” the Maya underworld. From here you will be guided by your headlamp, navigating your way through the cave to the main plaza, where burial chambers can be found. Along the way you will learn about the sacrificial ceremonies that took place in this sacred place thousands of years ago. Intact calcified remains, ancient artifacts and altars where Maya leaders would make blood offerings, tell the story of what once took place. You will return to your hotel or resort mid-afternoon with stories to tell of your adventure and memories to last a lifetime.

Sample Menu

main

Belizean BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken, served with the traditional Belizean Rice & Beans, Fried Plantains, Flour Tortillas, and Cole Slaw.

Options

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio

Pickup included

Reviews

4.76

49 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5/5 - ATM with Cayo Inland Guide Dimas
Departure06478145914,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had the fortune of experiencing the cave with Dimas as our guide and couldn’t have had a better time! An absolute memorable trip of a lifetime with an awesome guide. 5 stars, thank you for the incredible experience Dimas- it was amazing!!!
Highest quality tour service
paulrN6521CT,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My three friends and I had a wonderful experience with Cayo Inland Expeditions. We ended up going to three separate Mayan temples and the ATM cave with them, and our tour guides was truly fantastic -- very knowledgeable and friendly! He gave us just enough information to whet our appetites without bogging us down with extraneous facts that we would never remember. Shockingly, the lunches provided were absolutely delicous completely exceeding expectations. The next time we are in Belize, we will book with Cayo Inland Expeditions again.
The Best Caving Experience I’ve Ever Had
amberdL6427QF,
May 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The ATM tour was amazing, Hector was our tour guide and he was so professional and knowledgeable. Him and our driver got us there very early and we were one of the first people in the cave. So we beat the crowds, got to explore the cave in peace, and we didn’t have to rush at all. We definitely recommend booking your next excursion with Cayo Inland Expeditions!
Definitely worth it!
Salha A,
May 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an incredible experience. Our driver, Wayne, was super friendly, stopping to get us a local breakfast burrito as fuel for our trip and regaling us with local stories and knowledge. And our guide, Hector, blew our mind with his knowledgeable yet digestible information and humourous anecdotes throughout the tour. OK, practicalities. Trainers are fine (I wore my Converse). The over ground hike is easy. The cave is fine too, if you listen to Hector and watch for the rocks and outcrops as indicated. The payoff is definitely worth it. The story of how and why the pots and skeletons got there is fascinating, and the cave itself is a glittering wonder. I am so so happy we did this tour. And feel very lucky with our guide (only 70 guides are licensed to give this tour, so you know they are good!) Just book it! It’s a Hec-of-a-tor
Amazing experience!
davidecH3866XQ,
Apr 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing experience! Visiting the ATM is a great activity as it is both a learning experience and an adventure, as you get through the cave. Our guide (I think he was called Hector) decided to bring us in early in the morning and it was a great idea as we enjoyed the cave all by ourselves, without having to queue for others and without the noise of the other groups, that we met on our way back. He was also very knowledgeable about the Mayan culture as well as the geology of the cave, so I really learned something while having fun exploring
You can't go wrong with this ATM tour. Just click "buy"
JustinTheSpires,
Feb 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
After hearing fellow travelers say just how good this trip is, I had very high expectations. This exceeded my expectations in every way. Hector was super knowledgeable, and was such a fun tour guide. He made sure we had the best experience possible and I can't thank him enough. Our driver Wayne had a refreshing sense of humor and made the drive seem too short. Definitely recommend you give these guys a shot!
Heck-of-a-tour
Kelsey K,
Jan 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Hector and Wayne were both a lot of fun. Highly recommend them as your guide and driver. Our group was the prefect size, all the same experience level, and so we kept a great pace. Inside the cave was amazing. There were definitely tight/low overhead spaces, but we managed just fine. Note: majority of the tour you will be in some level of water. Not until you climb up to see the remaining artifacts, will you leave water. The water temperature inside the cave was a bit warmer than outside but again manageable. Overall, would love to do it again.
10/10 experience!
naudial,
Jan 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I shopped around and this was the best price tour I found. The value ended up being so much more than I anticipated though! This tour leaves before the others so you get to see everything instead of being in a human traffic jam. Also, the included lunch was one of the best I've eaten on tours that included meals. Our tour guide has been doing this exact tour for decades and shared his rich knowledge with us. 10/10 experience!
Best Tour Guides Ever!
Escape63076687576,
Jan 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was absolutely amazing! Hector was incredible! My parents, who are in their 70s, went with us. Not only did Hector ensure they safely navigated the cave, he literally gave my mom the socks off of his feet! The sole of her shoe fell part, and he put his sock over her shoe so she could comfortably finish the tour.
Great tours
Jack414910,
Jan 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We did two tours with the agency. Reuben was very helpful in arranging and tailoring the tours for us. We went to both cave tubing and ATM. Hector, our guide to ATM, was extremely professional and always saw to our safety. Would come again!